change comes at us

 loss, loss, or gain, gain

there are some rhododendron by the dropping creek

with foliage relatively sparse, as if they are not happy,

near 10 years ago a fire erupted around here

and burned too much of the forest to the ground,

these rhododendron seem to have PTSD,

they hold on, but their heart isn't in it,

the two foot thick beech doesn't seem to have noticed

entropy's assault upon these woods,

neither do many of the neighboring rhododendron,

we had to take out a great double red oak nearby

because of damage from that fire,

now around its magnificent stump,

we have planted glorious wildflowers,

hoping for myriad small gardens in the pace

opened up by the loss of the dominating teee,

death has its sadness

and also provides opportunity

for next chapters to be written,

I am stuck in a quandary:

does passing time say "loss," loss"

or does it also say "gain, gain,"

the revelation of a new chapter

that is just as real and important

as the earlier piece of the grand story,

we both mourn and celebrate,

time passes and it van entice us with turning the page,

the next chapter can also be captivating.

by Henry H. Walker

June 24, ‘26